Timer



May 19, 1925. 1,538,869

H. w. MUHLEISEN TIMER Filed Feb; 7, 1921 llllla'ldlll'.

HENRYWMU/ILE/SEW,

JNVENTORSJ' W If L HI. ATTORNEYS. I

Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. MUHLEISEN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO W. 'S. RUSH& 00., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF W. S.RUSH,

E. S. RUSH, AND B. C. GRAVES.

TIMER.

Application filed February 7, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. Morn.- EISEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles, and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Timers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a timer or commutator for use in connection withmulticylinder engines.

The object of my invention is to provide a timer of the Ford type thatwill be simple in Fig. 1 is a plan View of a timer, embody-v ing theprinciples of my invention, with part of the casing broken away andshown 1n section. i

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the timer shown in Fig. 1 withparts broken awa and shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view on the line 33 in Fig. 1, showingthe contact roller, its mounting parts and its cont-rolling spring.

Fig. 4 is a section through the roller and track.

' The timer is of a Ford type and comprises a casing 10 within which isfixed an insulating ring 11 in which contact plates 12 are embedded.These contact plates connect with binding posts 13, the binding postsbeing insulated from the casing by bushings 14. A cam shaft 15 turns inthe center of the casing. A sleeve 16 having two parallel radial bearinglugs 17 and 18 formed integral with it is keyed to the cam shaft withinthe casing and is held thereon by a nut 19, which screws on the end ofthe shaft. A roller arm 20 having a pivot pin 21 at one end whichextends through the bearing lugs 17 and 18 has a pivot screw 22 fixed inits free end upon which a flanged roller 23 is Serial No. 443,067.

mounted, the head 24 of the pivot screw serving to hold the roller inplace. As shown in Fig. 2, roller 23 is adapted to travel'inside theinsulating ring 11 and contact with contact plates 12. It has an endflange 25 adapted to press against the inner edge 26 of the insulatingring 11. A retractile coil spring 27 having one end fixed in bearing lug17 and the other in the pivot pin 21 serves the double purpose ofholding the roller 23 against the insulating ringll and contact plates12 by its unwinding tension and holding the flange 25 against the edgesof the insulating ring 11 and contact plates 12 by its retractiletension, the latter acting to withdraw pivot pin 21 from bearing lugs 17and 18.

Operation: As the cam shaft 15 turns 11' the direction indicated by thearow a, the sleeve 16 and bearing lugs 17 and 18 formed integraltherewith are carried around with it. The roller arm 20 pivoted in lugs17 and 18 and the roller 23 attached thereto are thus caused to revolvearound the cam shaft. The spring acts through the roller arm to pressthe roller against the inner periphery of the insulating ring 11 and thecontact plates 12, in the direction indicated by arrow I), by itsunwinding tension and at the same time acts to press the roller flange25 against the inner edges of the insulating ring 11 and contact plates12 in the direction indicated by arrow 0 by its retractile tension. Arolling contact is thus produced between the roller and plate faceswhile a combined rolling and sliding contact is produced between theroller flange and the edges of the contact plates. This combined rollingand sliding contact insures a bright contact surface and a consequentreliable electrical connection.

While I have shown the preferred construction of my timer as now knownto me, it will be understood that various changes in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A timer, comprising a casing; an insulating ring fixed in the casing;contact plates embedded in the insulating ring; binding posts connectedto the contact plates; a cam shaft rotatably mounted through the centerof the casing; a sleeve a In a timer, the combination of: con keyedjuponthe oam shaft within thdwaetacts ha ving homologous 'po'inte in a commg;two radial hearing lugs extending from men circle; members rotatingabout the the sleeve; a roller arm fitting against the axis of saidcircle; a cylindrical roll-er inn outer 'faceofonelug; apivot pinextending side 'said circle havin mfian 'e; and lneans from the rollerarm through the-lugs for :"so "mounting said 'roller on said memr'ollercarried by the roller arm and adapted hers tliat it l nov'es* ra diallyto ihake contact ,to travel inside of the insulating ring and on itscylindrical surface with said conengage the contact plates, and havingan tacts and along its own axis to make elec- F end flange adapted'topressuagainst the trical contact on-its flange with said coninner edgeof the insulating ring; and a tacts. "coil sprin mounted upon'-thepivot:pin-'- be- 5. In a timer," the 'com'bination ofz contween theeari-ng lugs;one end of the spring tacts havinghomologous points inaicomheing'eonneeted to a iii-guild the other end of *m'on circle;members rotating about the axis 11 the 'spring being connected to" thepivotpin, of said circle; a cylindricalroller inside said the tension ofthe spri'ng being ekert'ed to -circle having a fiarnge,' "said roller=*be'ing =h0ld the "roller against the insulating {ring formed to conformto theshapeof saidconand contact plates and to hold the flange tacts sothat the'cylindrical portion thereof against the-edges of the insulatingring and and the flange can simultaneously make a i contact plates."line contact throughout their wi dtlr with 2; In a timer, thecoin'liination ofJQon said contacts;aspindleeupon whichsaidrollducting"sections'insulated f'rom each other er turns; an arm to theouter end 'ofwhich andcooperating td form"ail annular track;' saidspindle is secured,"said arm' being pivmem-hers rotating insideandabout-meansoted in said members and a spring forcing "of said track; aroller carriedousaid memthe "outer end OfBaid arm towards' said her-s; a'fia nge on 'said' 'roll'eri' andj m'eans 'circle. 7

"for holding-the periphery" of"'said "roller 6. In a timer,the'combination-ofz a track against the inner surface of said track*and- I having electrically 'conducting sections; a the flange of-saidroller against the efdge of 'flanged'rOller adaptedto run on'saidtra'ck,m said track. said roller being formed toconform to the 3.1n a timer,the combination ofz'f'c'on shape of said traclr so that the cyliiidricalducting sections insulated from each other portion thereof andtheflangecan simultaand cooperatingto form at'ra'ck;"members neouslymakea linecontact'throughout their 'frotating' about the axis of'sai-dtrack; a width with said track;" and means for-forcflanged roller; andmeansf'or so mounting mg saidfla'nged'roller against said track.

" said roller on said-members that'- it can In testimony whereof; Ihavehereunto mo ve 'radially to cause its periphery 'toconqlsetmy handatLosAngeles, California, this tfact with the 'inside'of said ti-a'ckandaXialIy QOth day of January, 1921. -'to cause its flange tocontact with'the' side of sa id track. HENRY W. MUHLEISEN.

